Liquid dispensing apparatus



Oct. 17, 1939. c. WALKER LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 22, 19372 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 m m a Oct 17, 1939.

c. WALKER LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 22, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet2 awe/WM C/Iar/e-S Wd/f n Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in liquid dispensingapparatus and more particularly to filling stationpumps, and has for itsobject to provide a device of this char- 5 acter having'registeringmechanism cooperating with the pump to indicate to the purchaser, theamount of liquid dispensed as well as the price per gallon and totalcost thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel pumping apparatuswherein the pumps are disposed a right angles to one another fordelivering a steady stream of liquid to the delivery hose.

A further object is to provide a registering mechanism connected to thepump operating shaft, whereby the former is operated directly by theshaft, thus eliminating the use of expensive meters heretofore used insimilar pumping apparatus.

Still another object lies in the construction of the registeringmechanism in the form of strips of metallic tape wound upon oppositelydisposed spools, said strips being provided with suitable indicia toindicate in tenths gallons, the volume dispensed, and the correspondingcost of the liquid .dispensed, respectively. i

Finally, it is the object of my invention to divide one of said stripsinto different computation zones to permit its use for varying pricesper gallon of the liquid.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides inthe novel featureshereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals oflike character designatesimilar parts throughout the several views, v

Fig. 1 is a fragmentarylfront view, partly in section, of a fillingstation pump, illustrating the pumping and registering mechanisms whichform vided in the nozzle for controlling the flow of liquidtherethrough. Gasoline is delivered to the sight gauge by means of mynovel pumping arrangement which comprises a pair of spaced verticalconduits 5 and 6 leading from a suitable source of supply not shown.Conduit 5 is provided with vertically spaced valve chambers I, 8 and 9to accommodate a series of conventional poppet valves 1', 8' and 9,respectively, normally held in closed or seated position by coiledsprings I 0-.

Interposed in the conduit 5 at a suitable point between valve chambers 8and 9, I install a pump II preferably of the bellows type but which maybe of the piston type. The pump cooperates with the poppet valves 1', 8and 9' to pump the gasoline up the conduit through the first twomentioned poppet valves, and force the same through the poppet valve 9'into the upper part of the conduit 5.

The conduit 6 is similarly provided witha series of vertically spacedvalve chambers I2, I3 and I4 housing the conventional poppet valves notshown. This conduit is also provided with a bellows pump I5 disposed tooperate at right angles to pump II for the purpose hereinafter setforth. The upper end of each of the conduits 5 and 6 terminates in shortconnections I6 and I! which merge into a common vertical dischargeconduit I8 leading to the sight gauge 2 through the medium of aconnection I9.

20 designates an electric motor suitably mounted on a bracket 2| securedto the casing I and is connected to a vertical crankshaft 22 supportedin bearings 23 and 24 also secured to the casing I. The pumps II and I5are operatively connected to the crank 22' of shaft 22 by means ofconnecting rods 26 and 21, respectively, whereby upon rotation of thecrankshaft by the motor,

each of the pumps will be rotated, and by virtue 40 of their dispositionat right angles to one another, as before stated, will .deliver a steadystream of liquid into the discharge conduit I8 and ultimately into thedischarge hose 3. If desired, two more pumps and conduits may be addedto form two sets of oppositely disposed pumps,

lines in Fig. 1. Spools 3|, 32 and 33 on which is wound the upper end oftapes 34, 35 and 36, respectively, are freely mounted on the shaft 28,and the other end ofthe tapes are wound respectively on spools 31, 33and 39, freely mounted on a second horizontal shaft 46 extendingtransversely across the casing at an intermediate point in the casingbelow the shaft 28. Shaft 46 is also mounted in suitable supports 4|secured to the sides of the casing and is keyed in said supports bymeans of pins 42.

The tape 34 carries suitable indicia to indicate the price per gallon ofthe gasoline, and this tape is held taut between the two spools 3| and31 by suitable springs 43 and 44, respectively. Spring 43 is coiledabout the shaft 28, being secured thereto at one end, its other endbeing fastened to the side of the spool 3|, while spring 44 is coiledabout shaft 40 and secured thereto, and to the side of the spool 31.

Similar springs 45 and 46 are provided on shafts 28 and 40,respectively, for the spools 32 and 38 to hold the tape 35 taut, whichtape is provided with a series of computation zones having suitableindicia to indicate the cost of the gasoline dispensed based atdifferent prices per gallon. Each zone represents a graduatedcomputation in dollars and cents of the cost from one-tenth gallon toany volume desired, for instance, up to twenty gallons.

Tape 36, movable between the two spools 33 and 39, carries suitableindicia for indicating seriatim in tenths gallons, the volume of liquiddispensed. As in the case of the aforementioned price and cost tapes 34and 35, tape 36 is held taut by means of springs 41 and 48 on the shafts28 and 40, respectively. g

The springs 43, 45 and 41 on the upper shaft 28 are preferably under agreater tension thanthe cooperating springs 44, 46 and 46 on the lowershaft 40, so that unless restrained by mechanism hereinafter described,the tapes 34, 35 and 36 will normally tend to be wound about theirrespective upper spools 3|, 32 and 33.

49 represents a hollow shaft mounted transversely in the casing l insuitable bearings 56 at a point intermediate the shafts 28 and 40 andslightly behind the tapes. This shaft is provided with a bevel gear 5|keyed thereto and meshing with a complementary bevel gear 52 keyed tothe upper end of the vertical crankshaft 22, whereby upon operation ofthe motor, the crankshaft and hollow shaft will be rotated together. Arod 53 extends longitudinally in the hollow shaft 49 and is supportedtherein in suitable bearings 54 provided in the shaft adjacent its ends,one end of said rod projecting through the side wall of the casing inabutting engagement with a hook 55 pivoted to the outside wall of thecasing and adapted to support the nozzle 4 of the delivery hose 3. Aspring 56 engaging the inner end of the rod, normally tends to force thelatter to the left of Fig. 1 as will hereinafter appear.

At a suitable point adjacent the cost tape 35, I provide a gear 51slidably mounted on the hollow shaft 49 and keyed to the inner rod 53 bymeans of a pin 58 which extends through the hollow shaft. A similar gear59 is provided on the shaft 49 adjacent the volume tape 36 and issimilarly key 'ed to the inner rod 53 by a suitable pin. These gears areadapted to engage and disengage complementary gears 6| and 62,respectively, mounted on a short shaft 63 located above shaft 49 andsupported in bearings 64 formed in a bracket secured to the casing Inorder to facilitate this engagement and disengagement of the gears, thepins 56 extend through longitudinal slots 65 in the shaft 49, wherebywhen the rod 53 is moved to the left of Fig. l by'spring 56, the gears51 and 59 will slip into engagement with their complementary gears 6|and 62.

A sprocket drum 66 extending across the entire width of the cost tape 35is mounted on shaft 63 adjacent the gear 6| and is operativelyassociated with the latter so as to rotate therewith. The periphery ofthe sprocket drum carries two spaced rows of teeth 61 (Fig. 2) adaptedto cooperate with a series of complementary notches or openings 68provided along the vertical edges of the tape 35. 69 designates asimilar sprocket drum extending across the width of the volume tape 36andmounted on shaft 63 adjacent the gear 62 in operative associationtherewith. This second sprocket drum is also provided with two rows ofteeth 10 about its periphery,'adapted to engage in complementary notchesH on the edges of the tape 36.

It will thus be seen that upon the removal of the nozzle 4 from the hook55, the rod 53 will be moved to the left of Fig. 1, bringing the gears57 and 59 in mesh with gears 6| and 62, respectively, to permit thesprocket drums 66 and 69 to move their respective tapes 35 and 36downwardly upon rotation of the shaft 49 by the crankshaft 22, tosuccessively bring adjacent a window W provided in the front of thecasing I, the cost and volume of the gasoline as it is being pumped.

As before stated, the indicia on the cost tape 35 is divided into aseries of computation zones based on different prices at which thegasoline may be sold, and each zone is separated from the next zone by asuitable opening 12 provided in the tape at a point intermediate the twovertical rows of notches H, in line for engagement with a hook-likemember 13 pivoted at 14 to a bracket 15 on the casing I, being tensionedby spring I6.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown this hook in engagement with the opening12 in the tape, and as therein clearly illustrated, the upper face ofthis hook member is beveled adjacent its free end to permit the tape toslip over the same upon the downward movement of said tape by thesprocket drum.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the hook member 13 rests upon the reducedinner end of a transverse push rod 11 which projects outwardly throughthe side of the casing I and is adapted to reciprocate in a bearing 16mounted in said casing. The outer end of the rod terminates in anenlarged head 19 which forms an adapter for a spring interposed betweenthe wall of the casing and said head to normally urge the rod outwardly,the limit of said outward movement being controlled by a pin 8| on therod, adapted to abut the edge of bearing 18. Adjacent the reduced innerend, the push rod 11 is provided with a bevel portion Ila adapted toengage under and lift the hook 13 from engagement with the tape upon theinward movement of the push rod, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The price tape 34 is adjustable vertically between its spools 3| and 31by means of a feed roll 82 provided on the inner end of a shorttransverse shaft 83 mounted in a suitable bearing 84 in the wall of thecasing at a-point intermediate the spools and disposed immediately inback of the tape. The other end of the shaft projects outwardly throughthe wall of the casing and terminates in a crank portion forming ahandle 7 H. This feed roll cooperates with a friction roller ing ahandle H.

85 (Fig. 3) freely rotatable in bearings 88 on the casing and lyingimmediately in front of the feed roll 82 with the tape frictionallyengaged there'- between, whereby upon rotation of the handle H in eitherdirection, the tape will be moved vertically and retained by said rollsto bring the proper numeral adjacent the window W for indicating thecurrent price per gallon of the gasoline.

, Cost tape 35 is also adjustable vertically by suitable mechanism, tobring the proper computation zone corresponding to the grice per gallon,ready to be acted upon by the sprocket drum 68, which comprises a gear81 freely mounted on the shaft 48 and suitably connected to one side ofthe spool 38. This gear is adapted to mesh with a complementary gear 88keyed to the inner end of a short horizontal shaft 89 mounted inbearings 90 on one-side of the easing and projects outwardly through theside wall thereof, terminating in a crank portion form- A spring 9|,interposed between the crank and the casing normally forces the shaftoutwardly with its gear 88 out of mesh with gear 81 on the spool. Thus,by forcing the shaft inwardly, its gear 88 will mesh with gear 81 topermit the tape 35 to be wound upon its spool 38 upon the clockwiserotation of han- For adjusting the tape in the other direction, I

the push rod 11 is forced inwardly by pushing against the head 19 todisengage the hook member 13 from the opening 12. The spring 45 beingunder a greater tension than the opposite spring 48, as before stated,the release of the hook l3 permits the spool 32 to automaticallyovercome the tension of spring 48 on the lower spool and wind the tapeon spool 32 until the hook 13 engages the next opening. Hence theoperation of the handle H is unnecessary in ad justing the tape in anupward direction.

Having described the construction of my improved apparatus, itsoperation is as follows:

Assuming that the nozzle 4 is on the hook 55 and the registeringmechanism has not previ ously been adjusted, the tapes 34, 35 and 38indicating their zero position through the window W. Assuming furtherthatthe current price of the gasoline per gallon is twenty cents. Thehandle H is turned'in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1) suflicientlyto bring the numeral twenty on the price tape 34 adjacent the window,and by reason of the frictional engagement of the tape by the rolls 82and 85, will be held in adjusted position.

The cost tape 35 is then adjusted to bring the corresponding twenty-centcomputation zone ready to be acted on by the sprocket drum 88, whichadjustment is accomplished by forcing the shaft 89 inwardly against thespring 9| to slip the gear 88 in mesh with gear 81. Handle H is thenrotated in a clockwise direction thereby rotating spool .38 inacounterclockwise direction and winding the lower end of the tapethereon.

When the proper computation zone is brought into operative position,hook 13 engages the opening 12 in the tape and prevents the latter frombeing rewound on its upper spool by its spring 45 upon the disengagementof the gears 88 and 81. As heretofore explained, the beveled upper faceof the hook 13 will permit the tape to slip thereover during itsdownward movement.

- The nozzle is removed from its hook 5, permitting the rod 53 to beforced outwardly by its inner spring 58 to bring the gears 51- and 59 inmesh with their respective gears BI and 82, after which the electricmotor 28 is started by any suitable switch mechanism (not shown). Thecrankshaft 22, rotating with the motor, will operate the pumps II andI5, and through the medium of the cooperating bevel gears and 52, willsimultaneously rotate hollow shaft 49 and drive the sprocket drums 89and 88 to progressively bring adjacent the window W, the amounts involume and cost of the gasoline as it is being pumped into the deliveryhose 3.

After the desired amount has been delivered, the motor is stopped and,the nozzle is replaced on the hook 5, thereby forcing the rod 53inwardly to disengage the gears 59 and 51 from the corresponding gearson the sprocket drums, and permit the springs 41 and 45 on the upperspools 33 and 32 to wind their respective tapes thereon. Although tape35 will thus be returned to zero position, hook 13 will engage theproper opening 12 and prevent overrunning of the tape beyond itsadjusted twenty-cent zone.

Should the price of the gasoline change from that at which theregistering tapes are set, the price tape is adjusted by turning handleH and the cost tape is correspondingly adjusted by turning handle H oroperating-push rod 'I'I in the manner hereinbefore described, to bringthe respective computation zone into operative position, after which thecycle of operation above described is repeated.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of sprocket arrangement whereinthe tape 3511 extends between sprocket drum 92 mounted on shaft 830.,and an idler drum 93 mounted on shaft 94. In this form of my invention,the perforations along the edges of the tape are engaged by teeth 95 onthe periphery of the idler drum 93 which cooperate with complementaryrecesses 98 on the periphery of drum 92.

The diameter of drum 92 is preferably greater than that of idler drum93, whereby when the former is being rotated, a tooth on idler drum willenter a complementary recess in drum 92, and a succeeding tooth willenter a second complementary recess before the preceding tooth hasbecome disengaged from its recess, thus insuring positive rotation ofthe idler drum and movement of the tape. This modifiedform of sprocketarrangement may also be used in connection with the volume tape 38 andoperates in a similar manner.

While I have shown and described coil springs for rewinding the tapes ontheir upper spools, it will be understood that any other suitablemechanism may be employed with equal effect.

It will thus be seen that with my novel apparatus, I have entirelyeliminated the use of expensive meters, and by graduating the indicia onthe cost and volume tapes corresponding with the known output of thepumping mechanism, I have designed an accurate registering mechanismoperated by and simultaneously with the pumping mechanism. The cost tapemay'be of any desired length to accommodate any number of computationzones, thus permitting of its use for any changes in price of thegasoline.

If desired, I may provide a single tape carrying indicia to indicate thevolume along one edge thereof, and also carrying indicia along its otheredge, to indicate the cost, and this'single tape may be divided intozones based on different computations. On the other hand, I may providea series of suclr tapes, based on different computations,interchangeable for different prices of the gasoline dispensed.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and advantagesof my invention may be readilyunderstood by those skilled in theartwithout further description, it ,being borne in'mind that numerouschanges may be made in the details disclosed without departing from thespirit of my invention as set out in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Registering mechanism comprising oppositely disposed supply andtake-up spool members,

.tape means wound on said supply spool, and secured at its opposite endto said take-up spool, said tape means being divided into a plurality ofzones, means for adjusting said tape for operation within a selectedzone, means for paying out said tape, a prime mover for operating saidpaying-out means, clutch means for connecting and disconnecting saidprime mover and said payingout means, tension means on each of saidspool members for winding the latter in opposed directions, the tensionon said supply spool being greater than that on said take-up spool,whereby upon the release of said clutch means, said tape will be rewoundon said supply spool, and a brake member for preventing the return ofsaid tape beyond a predetermined position in the selected zone.

2. Registering mechanism as claimed in claim 1 including means forreleasing said brake member to permit rewinding of said tape beyond aselected zone.

3. Registering mechanism comprising oppositely disposed supply andtake-up spool members, tape means Wound on said supply spool and securedat its opposite end to said take-up spool, said tape means being dividedinto a plurality of longitudinally spaced zones, means for adjustingsaid tape for operation within a selected zone, means for paying outsaid tape, a prime mover for operating said paying-out means, a clutchfor connecting and disconnecting said prime mover and said paying-outmeans, tension means on each of said spool members for winding thelatter in opposed directions, the tension on said supply spool beinggreater than that on said take-up spool, whereby upon the release ofsaid clutch, said tape will be rewound on said supply spool, and meansfor confining the movement of said tape within the selected zone.

4. In a filling station pump, registering mechanism comprisingoppositely disposed supply and take-up spool members, tape means woundon said supply spool and secured at its opposite end to said take-upspool, said tape means being divided into a plurality of longitudinallyspaced zones, means for adjusting said tape for operation within aselected zone, sprocket apertures along the edges of said tape, asprocket drum cooperating with said apertures for paying out said tape,a prime mover for operating said sprocket drum, a clutch for connectingand disconnecting said prime mover and said sprocket drum, tension meanson each of said spool members for winding the latter in opposeddirections, the tension on said supply spool being greater than that onsaid take-up spool, whereby upon the release of said clutch, said tapewill be rewound on said supply spool in opposition to the tension forceon said take-up spool, and means for confining the movement of said tapewithin the selected zone.

5. In a filling station pump, registering mechanism comprisingoppositely disposed supply and take-up spools, a flexible tape wound onsaid supply spool and secured at its other end to said take-up spool,said tape being divided into a plurality of longitudinally spaced zones,an aperture in said tape separating each of said zones, means foradjusting said tape for operation within a selected zone, means forpaying out said tape from said supply spool, tension means on saidtake-up spool for winding said tape thereon as it is paid out by saidpaying-out means, a prime mover for operating said paying-out means, aclutch for connecting and disconnecting said prime mover and saidpaying-out means, tension means on said supply spool overcoming thetension means on said take-up spool for rewinding said tape on saidsupply spool upon the release of said clutch, and a lever cooperatingwith the respective aperture in said tape for preventing the return ofthe latter beyond the selected zone.

CHARLES WALKER.

